UHP technology is used in all new Ultra Large Crude Carriers (ULCC’s) that are owned by Hellespont Steamship Corporation. These onboard systems from Aquablast comprise a 75Kw electric pump, Gyrajet blasting lances and 100m of 4000 bar UHP hose. Spyros Vlassopoulos of Hellespont explained to MER the reasons behind utilising this system: ‘Hellespont decided to purchase a complete set of UHP blasting systems for each of the new ULCC’s due to the fact that these ‘big whites’ have been painted white from the waterline up.’ It had been realised that, in order to keep this white surface, which is extremely difficult to maintain, up to the company’s standards, some intelligent solution as regards to maintenance had to be made.
‘The intention is that we can now conduct onboard UHP water blasting for derusting and creating a good profile for painting with epoxy paints. Such jobs can be done on the main deck, deck piping and supports as well as water blasting in cargo oil tanks and seawater ballast tanks. Our units, which are placed in each of our newbuildings, have the capability of a maximum operating pressure of 3800 bar, which is strong enough to remove any scale from steel plating as well as the hard deposits of magnetite, whilst keeping the profile of the steel not less than 40 microns. We believe that above 40 microns is adequate for holding the relevant epoxy paints with good adhesion,’ he said.
He revealed that this admirable, and some might say rare, approach to vessel maintenance had not come cheap:
‘Although this system has cost the company above US$100,000 per vessel, we strongly believe that it is a long-term investment on our US$90M vessels. So far, test results have proved spectacular.’
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